Determining scapular position is a major issue in reconstructing the skeletal systems of extinct quadruped archosaurs and mammals, because the proximal portion of the scapulae has no direct skeletal joint with the vertebrae or ribs. When quadrupeds stand or walk, their trunk is suspended between the forelimbs by the serratus muscles, which arises from the lateral sides of the "thoracic" ribs and inserts into the proximal portion of the costal surface of the scapula. Therefore, the "thoracic" ribs are subjected to a static or dynamic vertical compression between the lifting force from the muscle and the gravitational force from the vertebral column. To investigate the body support function of the ribs, we analyzed the mechanical strength of the ribs of extant tetrapods by the two-dimensional finite element method, and compared the degree of strength through their craniocaudal scapular positions. The result of this simulation showed that the "thoracic" ribs of quadrupeds, to which the serratus muscles attach, have a relatively higher strength against compaction than the other ribs. In bipeds, however, we did not find a similar correlation between the strength of ribs and the serratus muscle. This implies that the location of robust ribs is associated with the arrangement of the serratus muscle, and provides a probable candidate for determination of the scapular position for extinct quadruped archosaurs and mammals.
Copyright 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.